Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir declared on Wednesday that the Kingdom would develop its own nuclear weapons if Iran does.
Speaking to CNN television, he said: "If Iran acquires nuclear capability we will do everything we can to do the same."
He made his remarks a day after President Donald Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Saudi Arabia hailed on Tuesday Trump’s decision, saying that it will back Trump’s further measures to counter Iran’s destabilizing actions and nuclear ambitions.
Riyadh accuses Tehran of supplying the Houthi militants in Yemen with ballistic missiles, which are being fired at the Kingdom.
"These missiles are Iranian manufactured and delivered to the Houthis. Such behavior is unacceptable. It violates UN Resolutions with regards to ballistic missiles. And the Iranians must be held accountable for this," Jubeir told CNN.
"We will find the right way and at the right time to respond to this," he warned.
"We are trying to avoid at all costs direct military action with Iran, but Iran's behavior such as this cannot continue. This amounts to a declaration of war."
